Tag Archives: saltwater

Last Minute Opening

rain, seatrout, specks, topwater, fly, fishing, port, aransas, texas, coast, guide, available, corpus, rockport, laguna, redfish, black, drum, airflo, hatch, reel, TFO, Beavertail, skiff, flats, saltwater, cruiser, tail, wade, wading

Top Slot Cruising Redfish Release

This Friday had a cancellation and is NOW available! Call ASAP to get on the boat! The redfish are thick and the skies are looking GOOOOOOOD!!! The speckled trout bite has been good especially when blind casting certain areas. If the redfish are off their bite it is pretty good chance the trout are still pecking away at the plentiful bait. The redfish and black drum will surely provide ample chances to take shots at cruisers and tailers! (August 12-17 is also available)

Call or text Capt Kenjo NOW at 361-500-2552

Or Book Now Online to see my Availability Calendar

BOOK NOW

Hardcore Challenges

topwater, redfish, doublebarrel, fly fishing, trout, port aransas, texas, gulf, coast, rockport, corpus christi, laguna madre, bay, hatch outdoors, power pole, beavertail, skiff, flats, guide, charters, saltwater, airflo, howler

Quick Topwater Selfie with Don

…Challenge accepted! Do you want to sight cast at trophy trout? Odds are slim, but you just might get your shots! We did yesterday out of Port Aransas.

Often you will hear someone say, “You should have been here yesterday” but I prefer to say, “You better be here tomorrow!!!”

Little did we know just how cool the day would become when we started well before false dawn… Out of bed at 4am with plans to be off the water at 2pm when the 97F heat is baking hot. And honestly I didnt expect to run into big trout…

The forever prevalent winds were gusting South southeast to 20mph … for some of us though, this kind of challenge cannot be refused. Lately the stronger winds have been every other day, and overall this year the winds have been down more than usual in the last 6 years. For this reason, this year is a great time to fly fish in the Texas salt!

The initial deep water hunting grounds we checked revealed no tarpon and just as we were relocating 4 or 5 jacks in the 20# class came bursting up in a fleeting 3 minute moment and the excitement dissipated just as the heavy morning boat traffic near the harbor began to increase. We got 2 shots on them but didn’t get the eat. We waiting another 45 minutes, didnt see them again. Seeing the surface life is always incredible to witness, but seeing the fish maneuver so deftly through the water is exhilarating!

Onto the next shallower set of fishing grounds deeper into the bay’s interior we worked the entire circumference of a quarter-acre island and only spotted one or two small redfish. Rather than continuing up the island chain, we bailed and went to the next sweet spot.

Getting setup on the pole took no time at all, even with the oyster reefs cooking in the 9am sun. Deep water access points are critical in low tide situations in order to avoid having to burn miles of 6-8″ habitat and this spot is easy in/easy out.

On the pole, Don sets me up on numerous shots at redfish, all long range and outside the 60ft radius. I like taking long range shots and Airflo’s Bonefish/Redfish Fly line performs perfectly for these shots. Too bad I missed a few hooksets or we would have more pictures. Haha. May could have used a larger fly with all the wind. It seemed though that half of the fish we shot at didn’t see the fly. Everything moves fast in the wind. Nonetheless, I was committed to getting my eats on that tiny size 8 “damn-near dry” fly and had we wade-fished, many more fish would have come to hand and at a much closer range. Someone just forgot their boots yesterday. Ahem! Cough cough

Onto the next line, short and quick, we poled a deep water edge along the flat and picked up a nice mid slot red that was floating but the hook pulled halfway into the fight. Up and at it again, onto the next location we simply weren’t seeing enough to continue that track. Quick drift over some deep water grass shoals proved to yield a bottom slot red and trout, both on top-water under midday bluebird skies… a nice bonus for the day for sure. Yet again, we hit some deep water, fired up the engine and ran to the next spot. Hit the edge and began to pole in about a foot of water then “Holy Smokes! Look at that!!!”

There the Tiger Trout were, tailing in the jungle… We got 1 shot on a 25inch plus speck as it was leaving casually but no love, then there was another, even bigger than the last, and probably in the top 5 biggest trout I have laid my eyes on in the past 6 years here fishing average 250-300 days per year…

Don kept his cool like no other, waiting for me to setup the boat to get him in the best position, slowing down to allow for more than 1 shot and once within a comfortable casting range like 50ft, Don began to work the magic wand… Don made one beautiful and deliberate cast after another and finally the fish moved on the fly, her massive head and sand colored tiger stripes on her back were lit up and wide! Rising up and leveling herself like a submarine coming into port, you could see that she was looking around for Don’s fly.

While that second cast got her to look around, just at this precise moment, I began to hear the roar of an airboat, approaching from downwind, heading practically straight for us. Don kept working the fish and he didn’t even seem to react to the intrusive hail of 300 horsepower engine careening over slicked-out turtle grass flats. I tried to flag them off but it seems like they either didn’t see me or didn’t care. On a mission maybe.

I so wish I could have filmed what all went down in that entire 30 second moment. Not the airboat coincidence but to capture what my eyes were viewing in the water. The true beauty of witnessing a wild animal doing what it does best and then using a single hook and line to interacting with it on a very challenging and now personal level. We accept these defiant challenges with pride knowing that we will succeed and if we don’t that time, we will never stop trying. It all about how things can go wrong, then finally go right, then go wrong again, just as thing are going right. All somehow, coincidentally, at the perfect moment and so much uncontrollable… This is why I fly fish, and this is why I sight-fish almost exclusively, even on the worst of days. Only you can make your day, even a bad one, into a good one.

I truly think we would have been able to feed that fish better had the airboat not been in the equation. I certainly felt the need for urgency in the moment. Kudos to Don for not freaking out more than me, and keeping his cool through it all.

That there is the relative end of the story. We continued to pole for another mile or so, generally continuing our planned route down the flat and off into deep water again to use the engine, we didn’t see another hint of fish… Irregardless, our smiles were just as big as ever, knowing that we saw many great things that day despite what wasn’t.

And with that, you can be damned sure, I WILL fish every day.

Port Aransas Texas, fly fishing, rockport, corpus christi, red, drum, redfish, sight casting, guide, charters, adventure, things to do in, flats, hatch outdoors, airflo, fly lines, beavertail skiffs, bull, red, record

38 inch Bull Redfish

August is big fish month as the bulls begin to move towards the jetties for their annual spawn. This year I expect to encounter quite a few along the edges of the flats and during suitable weather conditions I am offering single angler bull redfish trips around the inlet when conditions allow.

Guided dates are available and posted now and the fishing is hot if you want to take the shots! Call me NOW 361-500-2552 or book online to make an appointment and get the first available dates quickly!

Deep Sea Smiles

“There once was a fish with the deep sea smile and it lived down deep in the sea a mile…”

redfish, fly fishing, texas, coast, gulf, mexico, guide, charters, skiff, beavertail, yeti, trouthunter, port aransas, corpus christi, rockport, laguna, madre, padre, bay, deep, sea, roundup, 2018, casting, instruciton, lessons, classes

Sunrise Surprise

When Jake called me up and asked me to fish the 83rd Annual Boatman’s Deep Sea Roundup there was no way I would turn him down. Simply because Jake is a great angler and sportsman, he is fun to fish with and can hang ten while throwing shots on the fly. Win-win situation even if we lose!

Early on Day 1 shortly after false dawn we landed this beauty of a redfish but my livewell pumps had died recently and we decided to ice the fish and hope she didn’t shrink too much by the 2pm weigh-in…

Official length and weight of this fish was 27.25inches (half an inch smaller than when alive) and 7.6lbs… Very likely a winning redfish!

Treat all Life with respect and everything becomes a gift.

On Day 2, we met at the dock well before sunrise again, this time Jake brought along his lovely bride Whitney, and Jake’s desire to see Whitney catch her first redfish on fly took priority. It was a gentleman’s gesture, and for me, there seemed to me to be no better gift than to give her the bow and shots at tailing redfish in the early morning hours of dawn. It was an honor for myself even to have participated and love seeing the beautiful expressions on everyone’s face when they get that redfish for the first time!

We still hunted for that lurking trout (21 inches was to beat from day 1) and Jake even spent the remaining time on the bow letting excessive amounts of mid slot redfish swim away untouched for that 1 chance at another tournament winning redfish and he displayed a level of patience that you don’t see often.

Captain and Crew! Yoop yoop!

Nonetheless, our 27.25in redfish on fly from Day 1 held up and we took 1st place in the Fly Division. Overall I would say this event was more than a success and a super fun time worth doing again and again.

“…And now, you see, our smiles shine down in the sea, at least a mile”

Big Moon Rising

…Jacks attack. In Wolfe Packs. And they’re HAULING ASS! With Port Aransas behind them and Aransas Pass on their right, the Pack of jacks keep moving with their fins exposed on the surface of the water…

jack, crevelle, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, gulf, coast, guide, charters, beavertail skiff, airflo, fly lines, popper, topwater, flies, saltwater, rockport, corpus christi

Teamwork Wins

“HOLD ON!!!” The water is frothy from the giant group of marauding jack crevelle but their presence is still overshadowing by the howling winds, open bay and huge whitecaps.

As we approach at charging speeds you begin to think… Can we get that fly in the water fast enough? Can I keep the line tight to make the oversized foam head POP!?!?!?!? Yes!?!? NO!!!! Wait a second… “FISH ON!!!!!”

In this short moment of the feed and hookup, serious thoughts parse our minds of everyday mundane worries and we think clearly, knowing the answers, yet still so much unknown… Confident yet humble…

The Angler wonders silently while being sprayed by the massive thrashing beast in the water… “Will the leader chaffe? What test is it? “Wait, What hook are we using?” So many things can go wrong in a split second its not funny, except it is, considering all that we try to do, sometimes 1 star may not be in alignment and the leader breaks, or the hook straightens… Or the hook pulls through flesh, sometimes the fish’s, sometimes ours.

After 2 blistering runs over a quarter mile of chase, the hefty jack crevelle succumbs to tension and decides to hang under the boat into a strong current, heading upwind towards Corpus Christi Bay… For 15 minutes… “Steady now, keep pressure!” You hear the captain speak calmly… Thats it, she dont like the boat but we’re gonna land this one guys!

Jack on Deck

Two wraps on the leader and Chris knows he’s got 8ft to go and with a nearly 4ft Jack at the other end it is only a matter of reaching for the tail in depths unknown and feel for contact… “You got it NOW, PULL!!!!! HAUL that fish into the cockpit! ” Yee-haw’s and Ooooh-OUI’s are exchanged. Hugs are generously given to and from everyone on the boat, just as the fish gave to you in your experience. Revive it, let it go, and the hunt can resume.

Call Captain Kenjo for prime dates and availability. June has a few dates open and July as well. Get on board NOW 361-500-2552 or email: ken@kenjofly.com

Looking at Bait

fly fishing, redfish, drum, texas, coast, saltwater, clyde, port aransas, corpus, rockport, bay, laguna madre, corpus, christi, hatch, tfo, airflo, tailwaters, bayou city angler, roys bait and tackle, guide, charters

Texas redfish on Fly

Redhot redfish action today and non-stop for several hours! Landed 3 bonus keeper trout to boot!

Matchin the hatch meant alot though! The redfish were popping and crushing baitfish and throwing wakes coming up onto the edge then circling back around for their next ambush but if you werent imitating the prey they were after they wouldn’t respond positively at all. It didnt take long to realize what they were eating and it was pretty cool to see the red drum thrashing themselves into the grass to annihilate their prey and see baitfish spraying in all directions while a red drum cartwheeled in a sloppy attempt to turn around and get back in the water!

Dont miss out on another weather window! The forecast looks solid through the rest of the week/end and there is plenty of room on the flats these days! Give me a call to get on board and experience some aggressive spring run saltwater fly fishing in Port Aransas Texas!

There are loads of jacks in the bay too and we will be checking prime locations routinely between redfish flats / The 11wt is rigged and on the boat ready to do battle!

Back on’em tomorrow! CALL ASAP! 361-500-2552

Capt Kenjo

Wading – Time To Get Wet

black drum, texas, coast, fly fishing, guide

Monster Black Drum a.k.a. big uglies

NOW MUST BE ABSOLUTELY MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR! Wet-wading the hard sand flats, crispy air temps, cool wet feet and warming water while being surrounded by countless numbers of redfish with chances at BIG Bonus Trout…. need I say more??? Dinosaur Black Drum? Hummm?

It is happening now. The water temps are perfect for wadefishing and for redfish crushing large baits and wading is the absolute best technique for windy situations. Last couple days have been sick sight fishing and we are getting crushed. Rumor on the street is that the fish are hard to find and I couldn’t agree more. There is a recipe of environment variables that are crucial this time of year. Being in the right spot and AT THE RIGHT TIME will surely make a story to tell!

reddrum, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, coast, wade, wading,

28 inches of fun

“The fleet of large black submarine redfish rise from the depths in formation, combing the shallows as they reach a comfortable hunting level, their food tightens formation as well and then absolute and utter mayhem ensue..”

I have a few dates left in February and March has more dates available.

redfish, texas, coast, port aransas, fly fishing, guide

Low-Light Stalking

We will be working this pattern as hard as we can, but its time to get your feet wet and get the numbers UP ASAP! I cant say how long this pattern will last!

Call me IMMEDIATELY for available dates and to get on board! Capt Kenjo 361-500-2552

Change of Seasons

red drum, fly fishing, port aransas, corpus christi, beavertail, skiff, flats, guide, saltwater, corpus christi, rockport, laguna madre, airflo, flyline, wind, coast, hatch outdoors, redfish, drum, low tide, trouthunter, leader, tippet, charter, texas

Low Tide Pig

It can be hard to explain and even harder to forecast because the weather dictates fish behavior and creates or breaks patterns. So many variables come into play, it can be difficult to determine exactly which variables are the most influential at any given time. It is certain though that the changes in seasons overlap each other, as one weather pattern rescinds another one take over… slowly but surely.

The last few weeks had a few hard short-lived Northers with light winds remaining from the north signaling the redfish to move onto the edges of the flats and feed very heavily with the strong falling tides. Their bellies were full to the brim, and got those fish fat and looking like their bellies would explode if they took another bite.

31 inch Texas Bull Redfish

Then, that 2 week long “light early winter pattern” ended and the SE winds and partly cloudy skies took over again and have dominated the forecast for what will end of being about a 2-week period. This changed the fish pattern once again and we zigged when we needed too. Coupled with the full moon pulling out most of the tide before sunrise we jumped back to some of our late summertime patterns and continued to work over the fish despite some moderate winds.

Fast forward a few days from now and we should find ourselves back in an “early winter” pattern and we will zag then to stay on the best fishing we can find. This flip-flop of weather patterns will continue through December with each passing cold front lasting a little longer than the last.

This flood tide redfish was loving crabs in the succulents

Eventually the summer patterns will fizzle out and we will soon be into a deep winter pattern by January/February with the exception of those bluebird days when the sunshine warms up key flats and allows us to sight cast again. On those duck weather days though we will strategically fish deep water flats and structures to pull good numbers of fish even though the aren’t up shallow.

There is a “first” for everything!

Michael and Marjorie decided to come down and give me the opportunity to put them on their first sight-casted redfish (on the fly)… Their determination was proven and learned quite quickly that the sight fishing game changes everything and since last Saturday have already booked another date in December!

Schools of fish are appearing now with larger sized fish and schools appearing along the outer edges of the flats coming up out of the deep and small to medium sized school fish are popping shrimp up and down the shorelines regardless of wind direction. And now, tonight in the wee hours while the rooster sleeps, another Norther is expected to descend on the Coastal Bend and with that will signal the fish to “put on the feed bag” again!

In the skinny on the fly

With all that said, the next week or two should see traditionally amazing “winter pattern” redfishing and I look forward to showing all of you as much of the action as I can!

Contact me ASAP by phone or email for available dates! 361-500-2552 If I don’t answer I am probably wrestling some REDFISH!!! Not to worry Ill call you back soon as the sun sets!

Below are a few pics from guests that I had the pleasure of guiding during the summer months and it was a unique experience where they made spectacular catches! These are my favorite pics and the experiences leading up to them are always great!

Sunset Bull Redfish

Never Give UP!!!

Windy Day Redfish on Spin and Voodoo Shrimp!

This redfish was hard work in the end but completed Johnny’s first South Texas Grand Slam (sheepshead, trout, ladyfish and red drum)!

Jose caught this Houndfish in Aransas Bay

Wind Driven Cow Patties! Or the redfish been messing around! We caught redfish over the tops of these the week before when the tide flooded normally bone dry habitat! We EVEN caught redfish in the cattle trails too!

Open For Business

KenjoFly Charters is proud to announce that the redfish are hungry and returning to the flats in good numbers. Their presence will continue to grow exponentially over the next month or so. Having spent quite a few days on the water since Harvey searching from here to there and both near and far, the consensus was the same immediately following Harvey… redfish were small and scattered.

hurricane harvey, redfish, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, coast, bend, red drum

Best fish caught since Hurricane Harvey passed through the town of Port Aransas.

But now with the frequent Northers we are getting the extremely high tides are beginning to drain and the slot redfish are moving back onto the shallow flats and each day we are seeing an increase in numbers and size of the redfish. We even got to take shots at some absolute slobs this past Wednesday. I have tons more photos to upload. I’ll get around to that towards the end of this month if my availability doesn’t fill up (email me to learn available dates in late October early November).

I have joked in recent weeks that the town of Port Aransas looks no worse than after a busy July 4th weekend. It is my way of adding a little sense of humor to the wreckage that Hurricane Harvey left for us all to clean up. A huge amount of debris has already been removed from the curbs and I now have a nice mountain range [of garbage] to gaze upon. The trash in town seems to come out of thin air and accumulate in large piles overnight, and expect it to be that way for a little while longer since pretty much everything got trashed. The flats of course are not trashed as nature has a way or recovering from natural disasters MUCH faster than civilization.

redfish, port aransas, hurricane, harvey, texas, coast, bend, fly fishing, rockport, corpus christi

Best fish on Brad’s first day sight casting redfish on the fly. A 25 inch pumpkin tailer!

Some Guests have already braved the unfamiliar torn apart town. They ventured with me out onto the water dodging some new hazards in search of redfish and the weather conditions in the last week have been more than favorable to target these fish by sight from the skiff. A lot of new territories has opened up and reshaped much of the topography of the haunts that the South Texas redfish prefer. The redfish aren’t confused at all and the best indicator I am seeing is that the bellies of these fish are completely FULL.

The excitement is building each day and every time we go out in search we are seeing more and more fish. About half the fish are tailing and the rest are cruising crushing bait once pushed into ambush. There is no shortage of redfish at which to cast and Anglers are staying on point and busy most of the day taking shots at the hungry red drum. The average size is also increasing and in the near future schools of redfish should begin to appear as the North winds shift and begin to prevail.

October is fairly booked but a few dates are still available here and there. November last year proved to be a fantastic time leading up to Thanksgiving and I expect the timeliness to be similar if not early. Therefore late October is also prime (DONt MISS OUT!) and has a good number of dates available for anyone who hasn’t already booked with me. Simply give me a call and we will get things coordinated. Just call me direct! 361-500-2552

Succulent Crawler

Lodging is coming back around in Port Aransas as well as places to eat. Below are links to places local to Port Aransas and lists what is open to accommodate our Guests in this regard. Other lodging and food options are available in Corpus Christi area as well.

https://portaransas.org/wp-content/uploads/accommodations-reopened.pdf

https://business.portaransas.org/list/category/restaurants-re-opened-205

Hot Redfish

texas, gulf, redfish, coast, fly fishing, port aransas, rockport, corpus christi, laguna madre, tailing

Letting Go of Big Red

On the lowest of tides in South Texas the wildlife is thriving on most every flat. You can smell all the animals out there in the still clean air.

There is a plethora of migratory shorebirds of all sizes and colors, scrounging through the matted sea grass and mud of the flats that are now drained. Litle white-yellowish butterflies flicker about in the breeze looking for a mangrove blossom. The sounds of locuts and cicadas fgill the air but the cadence breaks everytime a redfish crashes on some bait along the shoreline.

For someone who has lived way out in the country and even in the big cities, the fragrance of Mother Nature is most appealing.

Aromas of fresh shrimp, crabs, oysters and fish permeate the morning air and my nose tells me it is going to be a fantastic day fly fishing the Lower Texas Coast.

Within minutes of setting up on the flat, we begin to see large fire-orange glowing triangles breaking the surface at over 100 feet away. REDFISH Schools! And Big’uns at that!

We are surrounded. There! 9 o’clock! 60 feet and closing! A fleet of six dark shapes emerges from the diamond glare of the sun. Swimming in a fighter-jet formation, heading straight for the boat are massive well-fed top-slot redfish sweeping across the flat crushing any bait that dares let them get too close.

texas, gulf, sheepshead, coast, fly fishing, port aransas, rockport, corpus christi, laguna madre

Bah Bah Bah!!!! She ate with reckless abandon!

“Hey Man?” the guide whispers loudly, hoping the angler on point can hear him but trying not to spook the gang. “There’s a tail at 11o’clock, 40 feet from your tippy toes. See that sheepshead looking right at ya! CAST!” The fly lands a foot short of the fish, leader straight and the game of chase begins. The man on the bow starts stripping and stripping and the fish follows, slowing closing the gap. Then suddenly, just when we think the fish is going to bail, she commits to eating and just nailed the chartreuse shrimp fly throwing a rooster-tail of water behind the line as it ripped away from the boat. “Ahhhh! Sweet!” the man on the bow exclaims.

Diamond Redfish

I Give me a call ASAP to get booked for prime fishing dates in August and September. NOW IS THE TIME! Capt Kenjo 361-500-2552 or email ken@kenjofly.com

What We Learn

redfish, drum, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, coast, guide, saltwater, charter, airflo, sims, hatch, beavertail, marsh, spartina, grass, sunrise, mullet, crab, shrimp, fly only, catch and release, trout, speckled, speck, snaggletooth, sock, deep, water, skinny, culture, wade, fishing

29inch redfish in sock deep water

Often-times I am amazed at what we learn when spending time in the outdoors observing wild animals in their niche habitat. If you can slow down enough you will be amazed. Somehow, there are times when I see a fish and begin reading its behavior and I soon anticipate that the fish is going to make a turn there, and then we will have a good clean shot with the fly.

Return guest Tom (6’3″), caught this redfish 20 feet from us only seconds after I dropped to my knees and went on point as this 29 inch over-slot redfish came barreling towards us in sock-deep water through a thin line of spartina grass. Despite cloudy conditions Tom has learned how to present a fly close range to a fish that is closing the gap fast. Come fish with me and learn how to keep from over-shooting the fish that are charging you head on.

Look at that smile!

First-time Guest Barrie worked well through a tough day and prevailed when he learned how to lay the fly gently on the water and tweak his fly selection to entice some very spooky fish that had been keeping him on his toes. Dark grassy bottom, cloudy skies with plenty of wind made it difficult to see the fish but once he knew what to look for in this situation he was soon taking shot after shot at fish left and right. You can just feel the sense of accomplishment Barrie has just by the look on his face! With no time to loose, Barrie will be back again in June to overcome a whole new set of challenges.

Gail stuck 3 trout in 3 casts. The big one ate first but got away under the boat, but the other two just wanted to a photo op with such a fun lady!

Spotted sea trout, or speckled trout, are one of the most difficult fish to sight cast on the fly. Their body shape and markings make them excellent at the game of hide-and-seek, and their patience to lay motionless for extended periods of why many fisherman pass over some fine trophies without hardly ever knowing that a big sow trout was laying in wait for its next meal. It is a true spectacle though when you finally get a legitimate cast at a big ole mamma trout and she charges your fly like lightning then turns away at 90 degrees without breaking stride in defiant rejection of the chosen offering. Rumor has it this is common for trout anglers to experience which is why so many of them wade very deep edges looking for “easy-pickins”.

Traffic be damned, we spotted this houndfish at 80ft, closed the gap to 65 feet and Jose threw the fly right where it needed to be!

Its always good to be ready and being able to throw a clean cast out of 80-90 feet will prove to be invaluable in the salt even if the majority of the time only 30-50ft cast are necessary. Some fish just wont let you get closer and this houndfish was the same, as we moved towards the houndfish, it moved away from us and we were barely able to close the gap enough for Jose to fire off a beautiful cast and get the fly right where it needed to be. On the business end of this fish, rarely spotted inside the bay.

Kenjo Fly Fishing Charters

Texas Saltwater Flats Fishing Charters